Chapter XXVI.

In investigating the truth the philosophers have broken
through their own rules. Moses, however, showed himself more wise
than they. The greater the dignity of wisdom, the more earnestly
must we strive to gain it. Nature herself urges us all to do
this.

122. It is said,
therefore, that in investigating the truth, we must observe what is
seemly. We ought to look for what is true with the greatest
care. We must not put forward falsehood for truth, nor hide the
truth in darkness, nor fill the mind with idle, involved, or doubtful
matters. What so unseemly as to worship a wooden thing, which men
themselves have made? What shows such darkness as to discuss
subjects connected with geometry and astronomy (which they approve of),
to measure the depths of space, to shut up heaven and earth within the
limits of fixed numbers, to leave aside the grounds of salvation and to
seek for error?

123. Moses, learned as he was in all the
wisdom of the Egyptians,182182Acts vii. 22. did not approve
of those things, but thought that kind of wisdom both harmful and
foolish. Turning away therefrom, he sought God with all the
desire of his heart, and thus saw, questioned, heard Him when He
spoke.183183Ex. iii. 4. Who is more wise than he whom God
taught, and who brought to nought all the wisdom of the Egyptians, and
all the powers of their craft by the might of his works? He did
not treat things unknown as well known, and so rashly accept
them. Yet these philosophers, though they do not consider it
contrary to nature, nor shameful for themselves to worship, and to ask
help from an idol which knows nothing, teach us that these two things
mentioned in the words just spoken, which are in accordance both with
nature and with virtue, ought to be avoided.

124. The loftier the virtue of wisdom is, the more
I say we ought to strive for it, so that we may be able to attain to
it. And that we may have no ideas which are contrary to nature,
or are disgraceful, or unfitting, we ought to give two things, that is,
time and care, to considering matters for the sake of investigating
them. For there is nothing in which man excels all other living
creatures more than in the fact that he has reason, seeks out the
origin of things, thinks that the Author of his being should be
searched out. For in His hand is our life and death; He rules
this world by His nod. And to Him we know that we must give a
reason for our actions. For there is nothing which is more of a
help to a good life than to believe that He will be our judge, Whom
hidden things do not escape, and unseemly things offend, and good deeds
delight.

125. In all men, then, there lies, in accordance
with human nature, a desire to search out the truth, which leads us on
to have a longing for knowledge and learning, and
22infuses into us a wish to seek after
it. To excel in this seems a noble thing to mankind; but there
are only few who attain to it. And they, by deep thought, by
careful deliberation, spend no little labour so as to be able to attain
to that blessed and virtuous life, and to approach its likeness in
their actions. “For not he that saith to Me Lord, Lord,
shall enter into the kingdom of heaven, but he that doeth those things
that I say.”184184 S. Matt. vii. 21. To have a
desire for knowledge without actions to correspond—well! I do not
know whether that carries anything more with it.